Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,394, Joseph Dowse, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Dowse, Joseph
S 17394
Carded
CONTENTS

1888
May 24 Azro M Dows - history (Letter in Joseph Dows F 17.393) Prior
75 Mudbury
21.665
Massachusetts
Joseph Dows
Middlesex in the State of Mass was a Private in the Company common Captain Mowry of the Regt Col. Whitney in the Mass for 18 months - Private 3 " Sergeant
Me
scribed on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of $75 - Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Oct 1833 and sent to Isaac Fiske Esq Cambridge Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $187 57 Semi-ant. allowance ending Feb 1834 - 37 43 $225.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. D. Dows Clerk. Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 15

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss.
On this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Joseph Dousa a resident of Sherburne in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Three years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, A. D. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: He was drafted the latter part of December 1777 or the first of January 1778, to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary War , & went into a Company commanded by Col. Harrington he believes; - he belonged to a detachment to guard the stores & was in the command of Sergeant Morse ; - he was stationed at Sherburne , Mystic & then back to Sherburne , & he served under this enlistment six months & was discharged. -
He enlisted in the month of June 1780 into a Company commanded by Lieutenant King in Col. Bradford's Regiment; drilled at Westport , & marched to New Jersey under the command of Genl. Washington . Genl. Steuben commander of the Division in which he served & he continued in the service for the term of ten months. -
He enlisted into a company in the month of August 1781 - commanded by Col. Howard , & Col. Webb's Regiment; - he received a warrant as Sargeant which is lost; he did duty as a Sargeant under this enlistment & in this company for the term of three months; when he was discharged: - The original discharge signed by J. Brannan & countersigned by Jos. Webb . Lt Col. comd. is here in Court produced.
In the year 1779. in the Spring or Summer into a Company commanded by Col. Hovey ; in a Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Whitney , I believe. He marched to Providence & there was stationed till the British left Newport ; - he then marched to Newport & was there stationed. & continued there till he was discharged in the first part of January 1780 . He was in the service six months at least under this enlistment. He knows of no man living who can testify as to this service, & he has no documentary evidence relative to it.

He was born in Charlestown in the month of January, the first day, 1739; — He has no record of his birth; the record of his birth was burnt with his father's house by the British. The first time he was drafted & the other times he enlisted. He was living in Sherburne in the County of Middlesex; — He has lived in Sherburne ever since the Revolution where he now lives; — He He remembers Genl. Patterson in command; — Col. Brooks on the right; — Genl. Linnun was also in command during the time of his service. He had discharges in every instance, but they are all lost or mislaid except the one annexed. — He never received any commission, except as Sergeant. He is known to the Revd. Nathl. Howe of Hopkinton & Barak Leland of Sherburne in said county of Middlesex.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state,
Joseph Dows
We, Nathaniel Howe — a clergyman, residing in the Hopkinton near Sherburne — and Barak Leland — residing in said Sherburne — hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joseph Dows — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; — that we believe him to be Seventy three years of age: that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Barak Leland Nathaniel Howe
J. O. P. Fay Prob.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify, that it appears to them that Nathaniel Howe who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Hopkinton a town adjoining Sherburne and that Barak Leland who has also signed the same, is a resident in Sherburne and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. O. P. Fay Prob.
Isaac Fisher Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter

to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Barak Leland Nathanael Howe J. P. P. Fay Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify, that it appears to them that Nathanael Howe who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Hopkinton  a town adjoining Sherburne and that Barak Leland who has also signed the same, is a resident in Sherburne and is a credible person ; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. Fay Probate Isaac Lakin
I Isaac Lakin Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Dowe for a pension.
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day first aforesaid.
Isaac Lakin

9600
Joseph Douse
Mr. Hanz's certificate re- garding 21 Augt 1893
5. 14. 1606
May 8 1893
P 386
  Supt  3 Monthly  60.00    Plank  18 "  15      75      150      59.50      187.00  
Isaac Fiske Esq East Cambridge Mass

BRIEF in the case of Joseph Dowe County of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 73 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Drafted Dec. on Jan 1777 — 6 — private Gen. Capt Harrington }   he enlisted June 1780 — 6 — — Col Bradford } Lieut King }   enlisted Aug 1781 3 — — Sergeant Col Webb } Capt Howard }   enlisted in 1779 Spring & summer 6, at least — — private Col Whitney Capt Hovey  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sherburne Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses documentary and traditional evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? one of the affidavits is improperly attested
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jno Watson 20th Feby 1833
Examining Clerk.

Serg Joseph Dows. 1st Co. Whipple's Vt. Grn. Inf. Coolidge having served three months Being the full term of their enlistment are hereby Discharged the Service Camp. Novem. 30 th 1861 J. W. Bridger J. W. B. B. Nolan

The within is intended to include the third of under copy Board for Retention Hartford 4th Dec 1731 Joseph Douse S.F 17394. Mass.  Superior England at order of Miss Pay and

17 394 INVALID.
File No. 17,394
Joseph Dorce
80, i Geo. 4
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 751
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Douse which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? to one he has, to the other he has not Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? to one he has XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

9600
Joseph Howe.
Application must be made to E. D. Bangs Esq Secy of the State of Mass for evidence of the claimant's name
Isaac Fisher Esq East Cambridge
Mass Sept 11 1842

According to the directions on the back hereof, I have applied to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth & have procured his Certificate. Although his Certificate does not cover the whole time the applicant claims, yet it is presumed that the applicant will not be concluded by that certificate: — The Papers in the Secretary's Office are very incomplete; — there is no evidence in the Secretary's Office of the eight months service; — & indeed no conclusion therefrom is to be obtained from the Secretary's Office.
Isaac P. Rice

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 30 th 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Joseph Douse, as a private, is found on a Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Hoover's Company, in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regt. service in Rhode Island, where he is allowed from July 13 th to December 1 st 1779. four months and eighteen days. — — — — — m d 4 = 18
Joseph Douse's name is found on a Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Hoover's Company, in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regt. services in Rhode Island, in December 1779. where he is allowed for services and travel, one month & three days 1 = 3
Joseph Douse's name is borne on a Muster Roll, of men, who engaged in the Continental Army, from the Town of Sherburn, in 1780. where he is allowed six months and twelve days. — — — — — 6 = 12 12 = 0 3
Joseph Douse claims services under Capt. Harrington in December 1777 or Jan y 1778. also under Capt. Howard in 1781, the rolls of which are not found in this Office —
Edward D Bangs Secy
alphons kee

19/6/61 19/6/61
Sturges Nathan Hiram
6
W Stone Mt May 17th
Dalton Goulding Esq
Shesburne
county of Middlesex
— Mass —

I, Ebenezer Stratton of Athol in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, testify and say, that in the month of January, seventeen hundred seventyeight, I was drafted to serve in the Continental Army; I was then living in Sherburne in the County of Middlesex, and Joseph Dowe of Sherburne was also drafted at the same time. We both rendezvoused at Watertown immediately after. From Watertown the said Dowe and myself with ten others were ordered back to Sherburne under the command of Sergeant Morse of Medway to guard the military Store, in that place, where we remained on duty about three or four weeks as near as I can remember. From Sherburne the whole Guard, including said Dowe, were ordered to Mystick, where we were employed in guarding the military Stores in that place, during the remainder of the Winter under the command of said Sergeant Morse. In the month of May as near as I can recollect, we were all ordered back to Sherburne, under the command of said Morse where we remained on duty guarding the military Store, until about the first of July, when our time of service expired, having served six months. I am confident the said Joseph Dowe was in the service with me during the six months abovementioned. I am now seventy two years of age, and cannot remember the exact day when our service commenced, but I am confident it was in the month of January and that we served six months. I further testify, that sometime after, I was on duty at Providence in Rhode Island, and saw the said Joseph Dowe in Camp there, and on duty, but how long he remained there I cannot testify, as he was from Sherburne, and I was from Athol, and different Companies. Furthermore your Deponent saith not.
Ebenezer Stratton ✓

Middlesex ss. August 11th 1832. Then the within named Ebenezer Stratton made Oath that the foregoing Affidavit by him sub- scribed is true.
A
Before me Dalton Goulding Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss.
I To all to whom the present shall come of the Court of Probate in and for said County, hereby certify that Dalton Goulding is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the signature set to the above and annexed Affidavit marked A. & B. is the genuine signature the said Goulding
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this nineteenth day of August AD 1832
Seal
Middlesex ss. Sherburne May 18th 1832. I further certify that the above named Ebenezer Stratton is a credible Witness. Dalton Goulding Justice of Peace.

D. G. Bingham.
The papers of Mr. Doremus have been sent back because you have not certified the credibility of witness; - I know to you as such you will certify & return the papers as soon as convenient -
Yours J. Fish

Flora of Australia. Official

4 Elias Groot of Framingham in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, wits, and day. That in the month of June 1780 I enlisted in the Continental Army and marched soon after to West Point. Joseph Douse of Sherburne in said County enlisted with me and joined the Army at the same time. We were placed in the Company commanded Lieut. King, and in Col. Bradfords Regiment. After drilling at West Point a few days, we were marched to New Jersey under the command of General Washington, where we served until the Army went into Winter Quarters the following Winter. Sometime in the month of January 1781 our time of service expired and I was then at West Point. I recollect distinctly that the said Joseph Douse joined the Army with me, and continued with me until sometime in the Winter or late in the Fall, he was taken out of the Company into some other service but cannot recollect for what purpose he was taken out, being now seventy five years of Age - Further more your deponent saith not. Elias Groot ✓
B Middlesex ss. August 27th. 1832. Then the above named Elias Groot made oath that the foregoing Affidavit by him subscribed is true; and I also certify that the said Elias Groot is a man of truth and a credible Witness. Dalton Goulding Justice of Peace.